Abbotsford Garden and Nursery

Masterton, Wairarapa

Owners:

Tim and Penny Bunny

Click images to enlarge

Address:

Abbotsford Road, Masterton

Phone:

+ 64-6-378 8763

Fax:

+ 64-6-378 2829

Email:

penelopebunny@hotmail.com

Open:

March to May, and September to Christmas; Saturdays only, 10am - 5pm; also Labour Weekend (end October) and Easter; other times by appointment

Fee:

$3 per adult

Size:

Medium - 0.8ha (2 acres)

Terrain:

Flat

Facilities:

Nursery on site

Tim and Penny have developed Abbotsford since the early 1970s around the house, built a century before, the original garden having become overgrown and lost. Nowadays old roses climb over surrounding fences and archways of inner garden rooms, designed with borders in sunny and shady areas. Outer rooms feature formal walks, such as the cherry walk, with a pergola opening into a new lavender-and-box-hedged rondel. An avenue of pin oaks through a paddock provides rural vistas to hills beyond. Predominant colours at Abbotsford are greens, greys and white.

Penny loves splashes of yellow among plants grown for form, texture and design, particularly grey and silver foliage. Spring bulbs are accompanied by clematis and flowering shrubs, including viburnum, hydrangea and a philadelphus collection. Aquilegias abound, and many peonies flower mid November. A good selection of lavenders and plants of Mediterranean origin suited to hot, dry conditions flourish in summer. Cool autumn nights result in bright foliage on deciduous trees and shrubs. Penny is particularly keen on bare-wood-flowering shrubs such as winter sweets, witch hazel, japonicas and corylopsis. She specialises in hardy perennials, especially nicotianas, penstemons, cranesbill geraniums, salvias, euphorbias and massing plants suited to difficult areas. A formal reflecting pool is planned.

Directions:

From Masterton, turn off SH 2 into Castlepoint Rd. Travel 13km, then turn left into Abbotsford Rd. Abbotsford Garden and Nursery on right.